Sasse Draft Our Daughters Letter

Senator Ben Sasse is leading the charge to keep women out of the selective service by asking his fellow Senators to add their names to a letter to the chairs of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees requesting they keep this provision out of the final National Defense Authorization Act.

Sasse Letter to Oppose Drafting Our Daughters

We, the undersigned, request your consideration on a matter of great importance as you prepare for conference negotiations on the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

As you know, the Senate-passed bill includes language that would, for the first time, require women to register for the Selective Service. We believe it is better to refrain from this expansion and to instead, task an independent commission to study the purpose and utility of the Selective Service System, specifically determining whether the current system is unneeded, if it is sufficient, or if it needs an expanded pool of potential draftees.

We should not hinder the brave men and women of our armed forces by entrapping them in unnecessary cultural issues. Our all-volunteer military is the best military the world has ever seen, and women who wish to serve in this military are free to do so. The provision of the FY17 NDAA requiring women to register for the Selective Service should be removed

We respectfully ask that you remain mindful of our opposition as you negotiate the final conference product. Specifically, we urge you to adopt the House position.

The Senators below have publicly signed on to Senator Ben Sasse’s letter saying “NO” to forcing young women to be enlisted in the Selective Service, thereby making them eligible for the draft.